Case-table.



"i TTE STATES PATENT @FFTQE.

CHARLES H. DEMPSEY AND THOMAS F. BARNES, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

CASE-TABLE.

Application filed June 26, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, Cnannns H. Dnnr- SEY and Tnonas F. BARNES, both citizens of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Case-Table, of which the following is a specification.

An object of this invention is to provide novel and convenient means for alternately or alternatively storing and displaying and making available articles desired to be stored at one time and to be displayed or made available for use at another time.

This invention is more particularly intended for use as a lunch box, basket or hamper in combination with a table to afford special convenience for campers and picnickers, but the invention may also be found very desirable for use as a ladies combination work-box and table; and also as a convenience for dealers in notions and other wares which are to be carried from place to place and exhibited or displayed for inspection or for sale on the streets or at other places temporarily used for such exhibition, display, inspection or sale.

The invention is regar ed as broadly new and pioneer in that a box is constructed to serve as a container fox the art cles to be stored, transported and displayed, and in combinati n with said box there is applied a table top of convenient form and construction, which may be adjusted at one time to serve as a closure for the box and at another time as a support for the onet me contents of the box; said table top and box closure combined, being preferably connected to the container by collapsible and extensible means such as lazy tongs. togglejointslegs or other devices which will support the table top in an elevated position above the container and which can be collapsed when it is desired to close the box.

Another novel feature of the invention in its preferred form isthe provision of means whereby the contents of the box may be made available without raising the table top to its elevated position: and a special objcct of convenience in this respect is the enabling of the attendant to unpack the box and place its one-time contents on extended horizontal portions of the table top while the table top is practically at the level of the top of the container.

The invention may be carried out in various ways and we do not limit the same to Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Serial No. 36,571.

the particularfeatures of construction, although the invention includes the combination case table and the various novel parts and combinations of parts going to make up the same.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention in a preferred form.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the combination case table in the form at present deemed n'ost desirable, the case being open and the parts being in position for using the device as a display or dining table.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1 when closed.

Fig. 3 is a mid-section on line 00 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 s a cross sectional elevation on line m", Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a plan of the device shown in the preceding views one of the slides of the table top being drawn out to give access to the interior of the container, and the other slide being withdrawn to expose the tie or brace of the legs. The removed slide is turned upside down.

The container 1 may be of any suitable form a d is shown as a rectangular wooden box. To said box there are hinged four leg sections 2. correspond ng to each other and connected to the box by pivots 3 seated in the side walls 4 )f the box about midway of the ltn h of the box. Sa d leg s c ons are foldable into the box and re adapted to be drawn into up ight position to rest. against tht end walls 5 of th box: and for the purposes of stabilit said leg sections are bent outward to overhang the end walls 5 when the leg s ctions are in u right position a d contacting with said walls. Vith this obiect in view the lower leg ections are constructed in two limbs viz.: the straight low r limb a. a d the oblique upper limb, 7): the u per limbs b overhang the end walls 5 when the leg members are extended to support the table top in elevated posit on. the up er memb r 9 of each of sa d legs comprises a lower bent limb c. and an upper straight limb (l, the general effect of the two members being complementary to each other so that the upper limb (I of the upper member overhangs the ins de of the ox, said upper limb I) of the lower member and lower limb o of the upper ll'lOll'llltI 2' arehinged together by hinge 6, and the abutting ends of the members 2 and 2' constitute stops for each other to prevent the legs from collapsing except when the hinges 6 are pushed inward, said hinges 0-being mounted on the outer or box-end overhang ing'faces of the legs.

A pair of legs is thus pivotally mounted at each end of the container.

The upper ends of the legs are pivotally connected by pivots 7 to side rails 8 ofthe table top or closure for the container, and connecting ties 9 underneath the table top give rigidity to the legs against lateral displacement; there being a tie for each pair of legs.

Said tie 9 is preferably connected to and moves with its legs, and with the pivots 7 connects not only the legs but also the table top rails 8 at the ends of the box.

he table top comprises three sections, the central section being a skeleton frame comprising guides 10 extending along the box, and connecting means 11 in "the form of a bar connecting the guides 10. Said guFdes 10 are so spaced apart that their outer edges are flush with the outer faces of the side walls 4: of the box. The side rails S are connected to the guides and are connected together by the pivots 7 and cross bars 9 The cross ties are angular in cross section and are hollowed out on their inner faces to lighten the bars; each cross tie having a ilat side f and a rounded portion 9, said sides adjoining each other and arranged to be alternately turned to form an end wall of the closure above the end Wall of'the container; the rounded portion of said cross tie being adapted'to fit close to the 'under side of the closure when the closure is closed, and to allow "rotation of said cross tie "on the pivots 7.

The flat face fis exposed at'the end of the closure or table top when the table top is elevated as shown in Fig. l, and is flush with the outer face of the end wall when the table top is raised.

Said closure or table top is provided between the ways 10 with slides 12 provided with the hand holds 13 and the tongues 14 so thatthey may be grasped and slid out and into open 'orto close the container when the frame of the closure is in closing position.

For security the side walls are provided with stops 15 against which the lower members 2 of the legs come to restwhen the closu-re is'down, and latches 16 engage in slots 17in "the membcrs'Qto held said members in rigid relation to 'the ends of the box when the "legs are extended.

bility 'to the table when it isdrawn up. By

turning the la'tches'lo to enter the slots 17 in'the'llower leg members 2. the legs are so "locked as vto rema n rigid until the latch is aieleased and pressure ,is applied i. nwardly against the hinges 6 to collapse the legs and allow them to fold down into the box.

Handles 18 on the end walls of the container afford convenience for carrying the device.

Folding leaves 19 are connected by hinges 20 to the guides 10 of the closure and constitute the folding sections thereof, and the rails 8 are provided with props 21 pivoted at 22 to the rails and supported by the middle cross bar 11, that serves as a purchase for the props when the leaves are raised, thus to support the leaves after the manner of the leaves of an ordinary leaf table. Fastening means 23 in the form of hooks and eyes are provided to connect the leaves 19 withthe container, said hooks being fastened to the end Walls 5 and the eyes to the table leaves in position to be brought into engagement with each other when the leaves are folded.

In practical use when. the container is closed by the closure as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3, the leaves can be raised as indicated in Fig. t and this can be done without lifting the closure from the container. Then the slides 12 may be drawn out, thus giving access to the interior of the container so that the contents may be removed from the container and placed. on the table leaves, and they may also be placed on the slides partly drawn out as at 12 at the rightof Fig. 5.

lVhen the table has thus been set, the slides may be pushed back into place, :and then the attendantwill lift up the closure thus bringing it into the position shown in "Figs. 1 and 4, when the device will be ready for use as a dining table.

If preferred in picnicking, to eat oil" of the table without bringing it to its elevated position, that can be readily done while the closure is in closed position.

When the table top has been elevated as in Fig. 1 the latches will be drawn into place the attendant, thus holding the legs rig- 1 y. 7

By nnlatching the latches and pushingtim ward on the hinge joints at 't'hehinges (Sfthe legs will be collapsed and the closure returned to its closed-position, then if iris desired to return to the container "thevobjects supported by the table top, the slides may be drawn out thus opening the 'containerlto receive the articles. which may be placed therein and the slides closed thus shutting the box.

'W e :claim A container; 'a-closu're "for-'the'container; and means at the ends of the .containerand at the ends of the closure for 'connccting the closure and the container, said means consisting of 'iroggle joints which are attheir lower ends pivotally supported within the container at ashor't distance'from the bottom thereof, and said toggle-joints being adapted to pass beyond their dead centers and when so passed to support the closure above the container, and when collapsed to allow the closure to close the container.

2. A container; a closure for the container; and legs pivotally connected within and to the container at the ends thereof and at a short distance from the bottom of the container, and to the closure at the ends of the closure, said legs being adapted to move inwardly and away from said ends in order to allow the closure to close the container.

3. A container; a closure for the container; and collapsible legs pivot-ally connected within and to the container at the ends thereof and at a short distance from the bottom of the container, and to the closure at the ends of the closure, said legs being movable inwardly and away from said ends for holding the closure closed upon the container.

4. A container; a closure for the container; and collapsible le s pivotally connccted within and to the container at the ends thereof and at a short distance from the bottom of the container, and to the closure at the ends of the closure, said legs being movable toward said ends in order to support the closure at one time, and movable inwardly and away from the ends at another time in order to allow the closure to close the container.

5. A container; a closure for the container; legs constructed in two parts, each of said partshaving a bend therein; and said parts being respectively pivoted within and to the container at the ends thereof and at a short distance from the bottom of the container, and to the closure at the ends of the closure, said parts being collapsible in order to allow the closure alternately to close the container or to be supported thereabove by said legs.

6. T he combination with a container open at the top; of a closure for said container; said closure comprising a table top, and side rails for said table top; legs constructed in two parts, each of said parts having a bend therein and being provided at the top with a cross tie connecting the two legs; means pivoting the parts respectively to the rails at the ends thereof; and means pivotally connecting the legs to the container; said legs being collapsible and extensible to alternately allow the closure to close the container and to support the closure above the container.

7. The combination with a container open at the top; of a closure for said container; said closure comprising a table top, and side rails for said table top; legs constructed in two parts, each of said parts having a bend therein and being provided at the top with a cross tie connecting the two legs; means pivoting the parts respectively to the rails at the ends thereof; means pivotally connecting the le s to the container, said legs being collapsible and extensible to alternately allow the closure toclose the container and to support the closure above the container; and means to latch the legs in closure-supporting position.

8. The combination with a containerhaving side walls and end walls, of a closure for the top of the container, lower leg sections pivotally connected to the container inside the same at the ends thereof, upper leg sections pivotally connected to the closure at the ends thereof, hinges connecting the lower and upper leg sections together at one end of the container and closure, hinges connecting the lower and upper leg sections together at the other end of the container and closure, and means to hold the leg sections rigid when extended.

9. A container having side and end walls, a closure for the top of the container, lower leg sections pivoted to the container at the ends thereof and overhanging the end walls, hinges connected to the outer overhanging edges of the lower leg sections, upper leg sections connected to the lower leg sections by said hinges and overhanging said lower leg sections, and means pivotally connecting the closure to the upper ends of the upper leg sections.

10. A container having side and end walls, a closure for the top of the container, lower leg sections pivoted to the container at the ends thereof and overhanging the end walls, hinges connected to the outer overhanging edges of the lower leg sections. upper leg sections connected to the lower leg sections by said hinges and overhanging said lower leg sections. means pivotally connecting the closure to the upper ends of the upper leg sections, and means for holding the leg sections in rigid relation to the container when the legs are extended.

11. A container open at the top, a closure for the top of the container, leaves connected to the closure and adapted to fold against the sides of the container and to be extended away therefrom on a level with the closure, and means to support the leaves in the extended position.

12. A container, a closure for the container, leaves in hinged relation to the closure and foldable against the sid :s of the container, and means to support the leaves in horizontal position; the closure being provided with one or more slides to give access to the interior of the container while the closure is in container-closing position.

13. A container, a closure for the container, leaves hinged to the closure and foldable against the sides of the container; and means to hold the leaves in horizontal posilevel of the tops of the side walls; a closure constructed with stiles above said side walls with a cross bar connecting said stiles and with rails above the sidewalls of the container; said stiles being grooved on their inner edges; and slides working in said grooves to temporarily close the container and to give access to the interior thereof.

15. A container having side walls and end walls and being open at the top; a closure for the top of the container; stops; fastened to the inside of the side walls, of the container; lower leg sectionSv Divotedto the side walls of the container and adapted to rest on the stops; means to hold the lower leg sections erect; upper leg sections hinged' to the upper ends of the lower leg sections; a tie connecting together the upper ends of the upper leg sections at one end of the C011. tainer; a tie connecting the upper ends of the upper leg sections at the other end of the container; and means connecting the ties to the closure.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands at Los Angeles California, this 19th day of June, 1915,;

CHARLES H. DEMPSEY. THOMAS E. BARNES.

In presence of JAMES R. Townsnxn.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. (2. 

